Game device



Feb. 3, 1925 B RG A DEVICE Filed June so 1924 W W mam 3 mam Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

MORRIS S TEINBERG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GAME DEVICE.

Application filed June 30, 1324. Serial No. 723,401.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS S'rnmnnne, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Game Device, of which the following is a specification.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a game device particularly adapted for the playing of the game of checkers or draughts.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a game device used in determinating the opening moves in the game of checkers.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a new means of characterizing the openings of the game of checkers.

Still further objects of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, which forms apart of this specification and in which only a preferred form of my invention is shown,

Figure 1 is a plan View of my device, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a checker board, the playing squares being numbered according to the standard notations.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the numeral 2 is a board having acentral hole or bore 3. A pointer or arrow 4: is revoluble on a spindle 5 positioned in the bore 3. A push of the finger upon the ball 6 of the arrow 4 or else upon the spear end 7 of the pointer 4 will send the pointer spinning in either a counter clockwise or clockwise direction.

Those skilled in the playing of the game of checkers know that in matches or contests the first two moves in checkers were balloted for or determined heretofore in a crude and inefficient way. My device determines the first two moves in the playing of the game of checkers in a simple, inexpensive and efficient manner.

The board or plate on which the pointer a revolves, is divided into seven equal parts A, B, G, D, E, F, G. Around the periphery of these seven parts A to G, are a number of radial lines marking each of the seven parts into seven subdivisions.

The seven major parts and forty-nine segments are marked in various ways, now be explained. In the playing of the as will game of checkers, according to the rules and customs of experts in match play, etc., it has been found, after years of experience, that the first two moves should be predetermined or arranged in advance.

The twelve blackmen or pieces, numeral 8, are position on squares 1 to 12 inclusive, while the white men or pieces designated as 9 are placed on squares 21 to 32 inclusive, as shown in Fig. 2. Black moves first and it is obvious that it has seven first moves 9 13, I call A, 9-14 B, 10 14 0, 10-15 D, 1115 E, 1116 F, 1216 G. No matter which one of these moves is made by black, white has seven moves at its disposal. That is, 21-17, which I call 1, 22-17 2, 2218 3, 2318 1, 23-19 5, 24.19 6, 2t-20 7.

The selection of the opening has heretofore been determined by crude devices, such as putting pieces of paper into a hat and drawing therefrom, throwing dice, etc. I am the first to invent a device for the purpose of determining the opening moves. This device will same time and is inexpensive to manufacture and is simple to operate.

The opening moves or playing under a two move restriction, is determined by either of the two players spinning the pointer or arrow 4:. here the pointer stops, that opening is played. For instance, Fig. 1 shows the arrow to be over A-3 meaning that black must play the move 913 and whites reply is 22-18. After these moves are played of course, the moves are made in the usual manner until the game is concluded. My device may also be called a balloting determinator.

For the sake of fairness, after this game is over, the players play another game wherein the colors are reversed and they play this same opening.

All of these possible openings have heretofore had a name usually many of Scotch origin, such as Ayrshire Lassie, Psialey, Dundee, etc. The names of these openings have been found diificult to remember.

Since the adoption of my device, the openings have been distinguished as shown herein, such as G1, A7, B5, etc., instead of these cumbersome, old-fashioned and foreign names. Likewise a variation of an opening may be named and classified by another letter such as E 5 f.

It might be mentioned, at this time, that if the pointer swings to what would be B1 or C1, it isnot counted and the pointer is spun to another position. It is obvious to those skilled in the art, that B 1, which Would be blacks move 9'14, and Whites counter reply 2117, would lose a man. Black would simply continue 1a to 21 Winning a piece and the game. The same result would occnr if black-played 1'O14l and White replied 2117. 'lherel'ore on my device I have marked B-l --and C1 as Loss. Deducting these twoharr'ed openings from the total of forty-nine"possible first moves, gives a ren'iainder of fortyseven playable openings in the game of c lieokers.

It must he understood that only a'p1'efe'rred form of'my'invention is herein shown and described and that any-departure from the same, "such as in shape-{size or arran ement of pa-rtsmay he resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the inv'ention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention' what I claim as new is:

1. A game device used in connection with the game of checkers comprising a board, markings on the board indicating all possible first moves oi said game, a pointer revolubly mounted on said board whereby upon'thepointer 'h e-ii'ig revolve-d it Will indicate thelirst move in thezgame.

2. A balloting det erniinator used in the game of checkers comprising markings-on d determinator to indicate all possible first moves of each player andmeans onsaid-determinator- 0 13011115 and name any particular op enin MORRIS STEINBE-RG. 

